Friday, September 12, 2014

Back in college, I had a wonderful children's literature instructor that turned me on to the work of Joseph Campbell & Carl Jung. In the series, The Power of Myth, (based on his work in the book The Hero with a Thousand Faces) Campbell sat down with Bill Moyers and discussed the common themes, archetypes and story arcs of what he called "the monomyth". I was in awe as Campbell broke down ancient stories such as Gilgamesh & The Iliad, & connected them with modern day myths such Star Wars & The Wizard of Oz:

Recurring themes such as the CALL TO ADVENTURE, THE REFUSAL OF THE CALL & THE BELLY OF THE BEAST came up time and time again in all shapes and sizes and through out cultures that had no way of communicating with one another. As I studied further, I started making connections to my own life and found a well spring of human experience to draw upon for my art as well as my sanity in dealing with the ups & downs that came with the various stages of life. I started recognizing the recurring characters in my life, WISE MENTORS, THRESHOLD GUARDIANS & SHAPESHIFTERS, the various psychological masks that we all wear at different points in time. It helped me find connection and most importantly hope during times when things seemed the bleakest.
In a modern agewhere information is coming at usat a pace that is hard to process & life becomes more & more automated, it is of great value being able to take a step back and see how we fit into the great human drama & find a sense of timelessness in our shared cultural stories. The Hero's Journey provides us with a center, a deep well of shared experience that helps us recognize our rites of passage and keeps us pushing forward on the road of life.

Want to learn more about the Hero's Journey? Join me for a six week class through the Ann Arbor Rec & Ed that focuses exclusively on the Hero's Journey & how to apply it's themes to your life & your art! Class starts Tues. 9/16!

Creative Writing: The Hero's Journey

Drawing from the depth psychology of Carl Jung and the mythic studies of Joseph Campbell, the hero's journey can be a valuable road map for any aspiring writer or artist. In this class you will explore the common structural elements found universally in myths, fairy tales, dreams, and movies. Through the study of stories such as The Wizard of Oz, Star Wars, and Harry Potter, you uncover techniques that will make your work timeless. Instructor: Spencer Michaud. 6 weeks. Tues. 3-5pm SESSION 1: 9/16 – 10/21, SESSION 2: 11/4 – 12/9 Tuition: $125 per session

Recently I was asked by my good friend, local music DJ & promoter, Matthew Altruda from 107.1 FM's Treetown Sound to appear on a panel discussion session & networking opportunity for local musicians in the Ann Arbor area. I have appeared on Matthew's radio show a number of times and really appreciate all that he does for our local music scene. On Monday, Sept.15th we will be sitting down with other local musician, talent buyers & booking agents to discuss how to make sense of this Wild West known as the music business & what steps you can take to find the right kind of success for you. This is a FREE workshop and a great opportunity to meet other people in the industry! Won't you join us?https://www.facebook.com/events/695614330526386/

Musician Community Building Workshop.FREE // 7PM to 9PM - 9/15Espresso Royale 214 S Main St, Ann Arbor.Open discussion about moving forward in the music business. Topics will included booking, festivals, touring, networking, money, youtube, social media and all of your questions. This is also a networking opportunity to meet other musicians and spread your music.Hosted by Matthew Altruda- Sonic Lunch & Tree Town Sound hosted by Matthew Altruda 6PM Sundays 107one FMPANEL:Jason Berry- Talent Buyer - Blind Pig - Ann Arbor, MIAshley Flohr- Account Manager for Music & Live Events for Google

Friday, September 5, 2014

Whirlwind happenings around here! This
is truly going to be a great fall. I'm happy to announce that my new
EP Tightrope Walker is now officially out digitally and in final
physical form! It's been a long journey to this point and I am
extremely grateful for all of your encouragement and support. I am
blessed to have so many great people in my community! : )

I have released the digital version
first on Bandcamp & you can download it here:

Please help me spread the word by
sharing the link to your friends and on your social media platforms!
Since I am releasing this independently, YOU are my best advocates
for spreading this music to the world! Thank you in advance, your
check is in the mail. ; )

I also want to let you know that I am
in the process of trying to get the title track from the EP in a new
movie coming out next fall about Philippe Petit & the World Trade
Center Walk starring Joseph-Gordan Levitt & directed by Robert
Zemeckis. It's called The Walk & you
can help! Please follow their twitter account:
https://twitter.com/TheWalkMovie
& tweet them this link for Tightrope Walker, asking to put the
song in the film! We'll get this thing in there grass-roots style! :
)

Last
but not least, I will be teaching a number of classes through AnnArbor Rec & Ed this fall! I would love for you to join me as we
explore a wide range of subjects and expand our collective
consciousness together! Offerings include: Guitar, Songwriting,
Astrology, & *NEW THIS SEMSTER*: Modern Music Business: DIY &
Creative Writing Workshop: The Hero's Journey. Classes will be at
Pioneer High school in Ann Arbor & will start Sept. 16th.
Check out the link below for complete information & registration: